Liver Spots on Skin

Liver spots or "age spots" are dark patches that most commonly appear on the skin of people 55 years old and older. They are harmless spots of increased pigmentation that can be caused by the sun or for unknown reasons. Liver spots tend to appear on your hands or forehead. They are not associated with liver cancer or damage, despite the traditional thinking that they were a sign of a malfunctioning liver. Rather, it's simply a matter of age.

Diagnosis

• Liver spots most commonly show up in areas that are exposed to sunlight, such as the face or forearms. They can, however, be found on less exposed areas.

Description

• Liver spots are usually flat to the touch, light brown or tan in color, have sharply defined borders and are oval or irregular in shape. They can be up to an inch in diameter.

Considerations

• Liver spots don't darken when exposed to sunlight. They will also not become cancerous. However, if the spots change at all in size, color or shape, have it checked out by your doctor.

Treatment

• Most people don't receive treatment for age spots. You can, however, lighten them by using a skin-bleaching product. They can also be removed by freezing them with liquid nitrogen, a technique called cryotherapy.

Prevention

• To prevent the appearance of new liver spots, use a sunscreen with a high SPF factor when outside. SPF 15 or greater is your best choice.